Ladies start the year in style

The Ladies got 2022 off to a flying start on Sunday with a good performance that earned them a 7-0 victory over a young Westfields Women side.

Knowle took to the pitch sporting an unfamiliar look, choosing to switch to their blue away shirts to avoid a slight colour clash with Westfield’s claret jerseys. The black and blue Robins were into their stride very early on though and went ahead in the second minute of the game. Morgan Betteridge’s cross was half cleared, but Knowle recycled it and found Jess Barlow in space 25 yards from goal. Her high shot had the keeper scrambling back, but she couldn’t keep it out the net. Knowle were buoyed by that fast start and had the majority of possession in the first half, testing their opponents with some good passing moves. The home side had the ball in the net again when Alice Belcher robbed a defender in the box and Poppy Wheatstone lashed home the loose ball, but the ref pulled it back for a foul against Belcher. Maz Byrne also had an attempt from Emma Shaw’s corner saved, before two quick fire goals from Demi Rolph gave them clear daylight. The first came after a nice team move; Betteridge and Holland combined well and the young full back threaded a through ball to Belcher on the right side of the box. She crossed to Rolph to rifle home from 10 yards. Rolph’s second perhaps wasn’t quite as pretty; Belcher chased down a long ball and slid in bravely with the keeper, poking it out to where Rolph could pounce and she made sure her shot avoided both defenders getting back to cover the line by hitting it high into the net. 

Knowle made a couple of substitutes on the 35 minute mark and they nearly paid dividend immediately when Belcher rolled a pass to Camile Abbotts and her first time long range effort dipped just over the bar. Westfields did then create a couple of their own opportunities, working the ball through midfield to hit two shots from distance, but both sailed wide. Shaw was next to come close for Knowle, playing a short corner to Rolph to change the angle and bend a shot towards the far post but again the ball was marginally off target. As the half came to a close, there was time for Knowle to grab their fourth however, Rolph and Belcher linked up together to play into the box, with Belcher receiving the final pass and crashing her shot into the top right corner for her tenth goal of the season so far.

To their credit, Westfields came out for the second half determined to get back into the game and were very positive in the early stages. The away team kept the ball better and attacked well down their right side, forcing Knowle to clear lines on a number of occasions. The Knowle backline dealt well with the pressure however, and Byrne made an excellent recovery tackle when the Westfields forward seemed to be free in the box to shoot. Knowle stepped up their game in response and soon had their fifth goal, working the ball out from a goal kick all the way up the pitch to score at the other end. Sam Smith took the ball short and carried it forward before finding fellow centre half Byrne. She played in to Barlow who was able to splay a ball out to the right wing where Betteridge was storming forward and beat the full back with pace and strength. Her shot across goal may have been creeping in at the far post, but Lucy Horsburgh had followed in and smashed it over the line to make sure no defenders could clear. Betteridge was also now on corner duty after Shaw had departed the action for Ebony Harris, and had another assist from there five minutes later. Her ball was inch perfect swinging into the 6 yard area and Belcher rose highest to plant her header into the net and put Knowle 6-0 up. 

Wheatstone returned to the action on the 70th minute and immediately caused Westfields problems by charging down the keeper’s clearance but she couldn’t quite find the room to turn and shoot the loose ball. She then had a one on one opportunity after Abbotts played her in, but the away side’s keeper stuck out a leg and stopped her shot, before saving a spectacular volleyed effort from Abbotts herself. Knowle were playing with style and confidence now, passing it around in the Westfield half and clever approach play allowed them to set up both Barlow and Kate Fleming for chances on the edge of box but both were off target. The Robins nearly scored again from a corner; Belcher’s attempt was going wide but Smith slid in to stop it on the touchline near the post and flick it backwards towards goal, but the defender blocked it on the line. Knowle grabbed a seventh and Rolph finally had a deserved hat-trick from the very next play though; she raced through on goal and rolled it past the oncoming keeper easily. The striker came close again just before the final whistle, rattling a shot off the post after Abbotts and Wheatstone worked the ball to her on the right side of the box, but Knowle had to settle for seven.

Knowle well worth the win and the score line did not flatter them, despite Westfields’ continued determination and impressive spirit. Plenty of excellent football on show and the Robins will need that and much more when they face up to Tier 3 side Wolverhampton Wanderers next week in the County Cup. 2pm kick off at home for that one!

Knowle: Smirthwaite, Betteridge, Smith Byrne, Shaw, Fleming, Barlow, Holland, Wheatstone, Belcher, Rolph.

Subs: Horsburgh (for Wheatstone, 35), Abbotts (for Fleming 35), Harris (for Shaw, 57), Jones (for Holland, 57).

Unused Sub: Keen.

Photos: Demi Rolph scores her second, and Alice Belcher buries her first of the game. Photo credit for header and below: Dave Lockie Photography - https://www.facebook.com/DaveLockiePhotography/